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Cancellation/Refund Policy
Programs cancelled by the registrant at least two weeks in advance of the program date may receive a refund. Refunds or credits are no longer available for programs cancelled by the registrant within two weeks of the program date.

If you are a Zoo Member or have a promotion code, please enter this information at the time of ticket purchase checkout. Scroll down for a complete listing of all Education Programs.
Camp PreRegistration

Only complete this step if you did not register for summer camp 2025, winter camp 2026, or spring break camp 2026. Registering for those camps is the same as pre-registration! :)

This process is to create a Quick Reg that will auto-fill your camp registration and make the registration process easier and quicker on Camp Registration days. This does not guarantee a camp spot.  You MUST be logged into your Household Account before preregistering.

Sign in or create your account here.  See our Camp Registration Guide for helpful and speedy tips. See our Household Account FAQs for information about the Household Account.

Note: your Household Account will say "You do not have a membership selected for this account." This is only because the Household Account and Memberships are in two different software systems. When you register for any program, just enter your membership number to get your discount. 

Quick Reg Set-Up
 
Stop! Are you signed into your House Account? Sign-in or this will all be for naught. See Household Account FAQs.
Session Camper Information: Monday, June 1, 2026 9:00AM - 5:00PM AVAILABLE
 
ZOO TROOP
Learning and growing is fun at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! These 4-week series encourage the development of important skills and values that will allow your child to interact with peers while fostering knowledge and respect for wildlife and wild places. Through age appropriate, skill and wonder-building hands-on activities, close encounters with animals, Zoo hikes, and child-led projects, children learn biological concepts and become curious to explore the world around them and find their own answers. Come to Zoo Troop, where children can let their imagination run wild!

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday. See class descriptions for current series content. All programs include acitivities in the classrooms, ambassador animal encounters, and Zoo hikes. Older classes usually have a series project/presentation. Toddler and PreK attend with an adult. Kindergarten-8th attend independently. 
Toddlers Hoot and Holler
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 18-36 months olds
“Raaa”, roars the tiger, “Quack”, calls the duck, “Sssss”, hisses the… cockroach. Animals sure do have a lot to say! Animals use their voices to communicate and their ears to listen. Explore the many ways wild animals talk to each other, from the familiar “moo” of a cow to the rumble of a rhino. Together, we’ll celebrate that every animal has a voice - and every voice matters!

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Toddlers All Animals Great and Small
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 18-36 months olds
Our world has animals, big and small, that call it home. From a tiny tadpole to a giant giraffe, animals come in all shapes and sizes! Come to this four-week series where you and your child will explore the zoo to discover the itty-bitty insects, the gentle giants, and everything in between! 

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday for 4 weeks.

Note: One adult must accompany children attending Toddler series. 
Pre-K Finding Friends
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 3, 4 and 5 years old not in kindergarten
From the low rumbles of elephants to the gentle touch of a gorilla mom, animals have many ways to share messages with one another. Some use sights and sounds, others use smells or even touch to say “stay away,” “come closer,” or “I’m here!” In this series, we’ll explore how animals communicate - through colors and expressions, calls and rumbles, scents and smells, and even grooming and gentle touches. Discover how animals find friends, work together, and survive by using their senses to talk without words.

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Pre-K Backyard Buddies
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 3, 4 and 5 years old not in kindergarten
From rabbits hopping around during the day to skunks scurrying around at night, have you ever wondered what creatures live just outside your door? Throughout this Zoo Troop journey, we will learn how to explore our own backyards to find animal neighbors! 

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday for 4 weeks.

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Kindergarten Bio-Buddies
Regular Price: $110.00
Member Price: $95.00
Can a moth and a sloth be buddies? Can a tree and a bee be friends? Why not? Many animals have unusual friends. These partnerships show how animals and nature work together. Uncover how animals help each other and how these friendships fit into the balance of nature.

Note: Children attend this series independently.
Kindergarten Home Sweet Home
Regular Price: $110.00
Member Price: $95.00
Explore the continent that we call home. From sea to shining sea, North America is filled with unique habitats. We will learn how our native animals have found ways to call this land home, too! 

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.

 
1st-2nd Grade Secret Messages
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Shhhh! Some animals are masters of secret communication. From the biggest beasts to the tiniest insects, these clever creatures share messages in whispers, wiggles, and even colors - no sound required! Come uncover how animals “talk” without saying a word..

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks  
1st-2nd Grade Native Neighbors
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
What do bees, bears, bobcats, and beavers all have in common besides the letter “B”? They all live pretty close to you and me! Some of the world’s coolest critters can be found in your own backyard. We’ll take an in-depth look at a few of North America’s most exciting inhabitants.  

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
3rd-4th Grade A Tails Tale
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
A rudder, a signal, a balancer, a breaking system - tails serve all sorts of interesting functions. We will look at the science and the structure of tails and who uses them for what, the clues a tail can tell about an animal's lifestyle, and the tools that we use to help make up for not having a tail ourselves.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks
3rd-4th Grade Whos Awake
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Day shift, night shift, in between shifts, animals have adapted their activity levels to share space with each other. We will explore nocturnal, diurnal, and crepuscular lifestyles, the adaptations that go with each, and how native wildlife utilize these activity strategies to reduce competition for resources in shared habitats. 

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
5th-6th Grade Habitat Heroes
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
What do an alligator, a panda, and a frog have in common? They’re nature’s guardians! Some animals act as early warning signs when their homes change, others keep ecosystems running smoothly, and a few provide protection for countless creatures around them. Come find out which amazing animals fill these roles.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks  
5th-6th Grade Eco-Explorer
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Tracks, scat, skulls, nests, scratch marks, calls, scent marks, and more. Animals are not always easy to see, and sometimes, neither is the evidence they leave behind. With investigations focusing on the different ways animals leave clues, we’ll work on honing our own observational skills and learn to use those clues to identify the animals they belong to, even when we cannot spy them.  

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks  
7th-8th Grade Be Mine
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Love is in the air this month. From stinky pheromones to musical duets and gifts of food to elaborate dance routines, animals have interesting ways of finding and winning over a mate. We'll learn about the role that sounds, sights, and smells play in animals finding each other and some of the funny and strange things that animals do to win over a prospective partner. Discover the important role conservation science plays in helping love blossom in the animal world.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
7th-8th Grade Naturalist Notebook
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Learning to be a naturalist is all about honing your observation skills. We will focus on using inquiry and participatory learning to observe, ask questions, and uncover some cool information about our native wildlife. After we have practiced and honed our inquiry skills, this class will culminate in participants engaging Zoo visitors in collection research on a question of their own design.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
 
DAYTIME PROGRAMS
These all-ages programs explore wildlife through activities and hikes as well as crafts or games in a manner that is sure to be fun for all ages. Please note that at least one adult must be registered with each group. Children under 3 years old are free.
Maple Tapping and Tasting
Regular Price: $25.00
Member Price: $20.00
Come join us at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm for a fun afternoon full of history, hands-on activities, and storytelling all about maple tapping! This program offers a sweet peek into the history of this age-old tradition and offers an opportunity to participate in the maple tapping process. At the end, participants will be able to taste the precursor to maple syrup, fresh from the tree! This program is sure to be fun for the whole family.

Note: This program takes place at our Bowyer Farm in Mason, located at 2210 Mason Montgomery Road. This is an outdoor program—dress warmly and with comfortable walking shoes to walk approximately 1–2 miles over uneven terrain. All attendees 3 years and above must register. At least one adult must register per group. Children under 3 years are free. Price is per person.
Session Maple Tapping and Tasting: Saturday, February 21, 2026 10:00AM - 12:00PM (3 AVAIL)
Hurray for Mom!
Regular Price: $25.00
Member Price: $20.00
Many animals (including humans) have close relationships with their mothers.  From the gentle jaws of an alligator to the comfy pouch of an opossum, come learn about our Zoo moms as we prepare to celebrate all mother figures on tomorrow's holiday just for them.

Note: All attendees 3 years + must register. One adult required per group. Children under 3 years free. Price is per person.
 
Session Hurray for Mom: Saturday, May 9, 2026 10:00AM - 11:30AM AVAILABLE
 
EVENING and OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS
Overnight Safari Sleep with the Manatees
Price: $70.00
Spend the Night at the Zoo!

Florida is full of diverse habitats that are bursting with thousands of animal species, from walking-on-water basilisks to slow-and-steady manatees. We’ll dive headfirst into the astonishing biodiversity of these habitats, centering around the lives of our resident manatees who are a part of a rehabilitation program. Throughout the night we’ll explore a few places in the Zoo, participate in fun, educational activities, get a behind-the-scenes sneak peek, including our amazing science and research center CREW, and meet some of our animal ambassadors up-close and personal! When the night ends, you’ll doze off at our Manatee Springs building in the big open-spaced exhibit area.

 

Note: All program attendees must be 5 years and older and be registered. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult. 

This program sleeps in the Manatee Springs building. This is a beautiful open-spaced room that will be shared with other families/groups. So you will be combined with other groups for the program and sleeping.

 

Zoo Night Hikes
Regular Price: $25.00
Member Price: $20.00
Zoo lovers of all ages can join us each season for a special night hike around the Zoo.

January & February: Winter Wonderland Bundle up and discover the Zoo after hours this winter! From playful penguins and howling wolves to energetic otters, snow-loving red pandas, and mighty bald eagles, you’ll see how animals thrive in chilly weather. Take an exclusive guided hike through the Zoo after it closes, where frosty air and glowing lights make the perfect backdrop for spotting our cold-weather champions. Along the way, dive into hands-on activities and warm up with unforgettable up-close encounters with our animal ambassadors. Winter nights have never been so wild

March & April: Botanical Exploration Join us on select nights this spring for a botanical exploration! Participants will meet an animal ambassador up close and then enjoy a guided after-hours hike to admire our Zoo’s rich and diverse plant life (but don’t worry, we will see some animals along the way, too).

Note: All attendees 3 years and above must register. At least one adult must register per group. Children under 3 years are free. Price is per person.
 
HOLIDAY DAY CAMP
Is play an important part of your day? It is to animals here at the Zoo! In this one-day camp, we will explore how both human and non-human animals use enrichment to stay healthy and learn how to get along with others. With interactive activities and observations of animals both in the Zoo and in the classroom, we will learn about how play is useful in keeping our animals happy and healthy. We will even create enrichment items for a few of our Zoo residents to enjoy.
  • Please register children according to the grade they are currently in.
  • Camps are available for 4year-8th grade only.
  • For registration you will need emergency contact and authorized pick-up information. 
4yr-Kindergarten: Enrichment Expedition
Regular Price: $80.00
Member Price: $65.00



 

Session 4yr-Kindergarten Zoo Play Date: Monday, February 16, 2026 9:00AM - 4:00PM WAIT LIST
1st-2nd Grade: Enrichment Expedition
Regular Price: $80.00
Member Price: $65.00


 

Session 1st-2nd Grade: Monday, February 16, 2026 9:00AM - 4:00PM WAIT LIST
3rd-4th Grade: Enrichment Expedition
Regular Price: $80.00
Member Price: $65.00


 

Session 3rd-4th Grade: Monday, February 16, 2026 9:00AM - 4:00PM AVAILABLE
5th-8th Grade: Enrichment Expedition
Regular Price: $80.00
Member Price: $65.00



 

Session 5th-8th Grade: Monday, February 16, 2026 9:00AM - 4:00PM (3 AVAIL)
 
SPRING BREAK CAMP
Explore the Zoo, experience nature, and discover the excitement and wonder of animals! Hikes in the Zoo, visits from Animal Friends, crafts, train rides, animal shows, and so much more make Spring Break Camp a jam-packed week to remember!
  • Please register children according to the grade they are currently in.
  • For registration you will need emergency contact and authorized pick-up information. 
See the Program Guide for dates, times, topics, pricing, and more. 

See our Camp Registration Guide for helpful information. 
1st-2nd Grade Blend Bolt or Bite
Regular Price: $315.00
Member Price: $300.00
Animals behave in different ways when faced with danger!  They can blend in, bolt out of sight or turn and bite!  Discover the tricky ways animals keep safe in this week-long camp that features up-close animal encounters and opportunities for excitement around every corner!  

 
3rd-4th Grade Animagination
Regular Price: $315.00
Member Price: $300.00
There sure are a lot of magical, mythical creatures in movies and media! This week we'll learn about the real-life inspirations for these fantastical beasts, uncover some amazing adaptations of actual wildlife and then combine our newfound knowledge and imaginations to “discover” and present a new species of our own creation.

 
5th-6th Grade Dr Zoolittles Training Camp
Regular Price: $315.00
Member Price: $300.00
Discover how to “talk” to animals! Campers will be training new behaviors with some of our Zoo animal ambassadors. Learn about animal behavior and motivation while applying training techniques taught by Zoo professionals. By the end of camp, animals will be eating out of your hands, literally!  

 
7th-8th Grade So You Wanna Be a Zoo Director?
Regular Price: $325.00
Member Price: $310.00
Join us for a week-long adventure and discover what it takes to become a future Zoo director! Campers will build hands-on skills as they journey through the different jobs and tasks that a Zoo Director may take on. Animal care, project planning, conservation messaging, managing a budget, and so much more! Are our campers ready for the challenge of becoming the next Zoo Director?
 
T-SHIRTS
Vintage Camp TShirts
Price: $10.00
All t-shirts are for pickup only, at the Harold C Schott Education Building at 56 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45249 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, or Saturday 9am-12pm. Call 513-559-7730 when you arrive. All orders will be held for 4 business days, and then returned to inventory if not picked up. 

Gildan Brand 100% Cotton. See size chart. Get your vintage camp tshirt! Youth and Adult sizes for the whole family!
 
GIVE THE ZOO TO KIDS IN NEED
Support Low Income Students Visiting The Zoo
 
Donate today and support low income students visiting the zoo.

The Living Classroom Education Access Fund began in 2012. Since that time the fund has brought 150,000 low-income children and their teachers to the Zoo for a free, fun, standards-aligned daytime, or overnight field trip. You can give EVERY child the opportunity to be inspired by wildlife every day and enjoy the quintessential Cincinnatian experience of visiting this top zoo.

An entire grade of young people can visit the zoo for $1000.00
Provide a zoo experience to a bus full of students for $500.00
Send an entire classroom to the Zoo for $250.00
Any donation amount could help! Please donate today.

Learn more about the Living Classroom Education Fund here- http://cincinnatizoo.org/lceaf/
 
EDUCATION GIFT CERTIFICATES
Zoo Education Programs make a perfect gift. You can even redeem your Education Gift Certificate online! When making a purchase online with an Education Gift Certificate select the Gift Certificate option in the payment screen and enter the barcode number.

NOTE: Purchasing a gift certificate does not guarantee a space in programs. Sign up for our quarterly Education Program Announcement email to receive notices of new programs and when they go on sale.
$300.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $300.00
Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Gift Certificates expire 5 years from purchase.
 
$200.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $200.00
​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$100.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $100.00
​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$50.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $50.00
​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$25.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $25.00
For the best elves in your life. 

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$15.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $15.00
Put a little Zoo in their stocking!

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
 
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